The July 3 issue of Time magazine is devoted to its fifth annual "Making of America" series. This year's subject is Teddy Roosevelt -- the only 20th Century president whose likeness is carved into Mt. Rushmore.

Time explores the reasons why TR was accorded a place next to Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln: his role in making the United States a global superpower, his conviction that the national government should promote the national welfare, his passion for conservation -- which led to the creation of our system of national parks, and many others.

It also notes the number of striking expressions that Roosevelt contributed to our political discourse -- including "big stick", "bully pulpit," "muckraker," "lunatic fringe," and "hat in the ring."

Yet one of Roosevelt's most eloquent (though little-known) statements was made not with words, but with a gesture. Early in his career, Roosevelt was appointed president of New York City's board of police commissioners. He soon achieved notoriety for his "midnight rambles" around town to see that the police were enforcing the law with proper zeal.

At one point during his tenure, a rather nasty character proposed to give an anti-Semitic speech at an open-air gathering in the city. Anticipating trouble, he demanded that Roosevelt provide police protection. Obligingly, TR complied -- and saw to it that every officer assigned to guard the speaker was Jewish.

Roosevelt quickly outgrew the police commission. His next step up was the post of Assistant Secretary of the Navy. The Time article quotes a contemporary Washington Post assessment of this rising young politician: "He is a fighter, a man of indomitable pluck and energy. A field of immeasurable usefulness awaits him. Will he find it?"

There is scarcely an American alive today who does not know the answer to that question.

Have a bully Fourth of July.